Grover mfg



y 1 A. R. THOMPSON Re. 17,659 I I mun PZLTTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invent or.

Original Filed March 17, 1924 attorneys A. R. THOMPSON v Re. 17,659

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRUIT PITTER 0 3 9 1 6 y a M Original Fil'ed March 17, 1924 44 Inven t or.

6 Sheets-Stage; 5

fnvenor, mad 4? wa smq A R THOMPSON FRUIT PITTER Or glnal Flled March 17, 1924 May 6, 1930.

' A. R. THOMPSON May 6, 1930. FRUIT PIT-TEE Re. 17,659

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 17, 1924 W n w v E meg; re. B

attorney.

A. R. THOMPSON FRUIT PITTER May 6, 1930.

' 6 h t -s 5 Original Filed March 17, 1924 5 ee 5 beet cw R. mu /L.

m m v 73% 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEYS A. R. THOMPSON FRUIT PITTER Original Filed March 1'7, 1924 May 6, 1930.

Reissued May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT R. THOMPSON, 0] SAN JOSE, 'OALHORNEIA, ASSIG-NOR TO ANDERSON- 3m- GBOVEB JKFG. 00., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Original No. 1,545,218, dated m 7, 1925, Serial No. 698,751, filed March 17, 1834,

filed January 25, 1927. Serial No. 163,545.

My invention relates tocfruit pitting machines of the type in which the fruit and its pit are first halved, and the halves of the p1t subsequently removed from the halves of the fruit.

, Such machines are used principally for the pitting of peaches in preparation for canning, although they are equally well sultedfor the pitting of other similar fruits. Such fruits commonly have more or less flattened pits, and in order to avoid undue waste in the removal of the pit, as well as for the sake of appearance, the fruit must be cut in the plane of the greatest diameter of the pit. This plane is indicated upon the outside of the fruit by a more or less prominent depression or groove beginning at the stem cavity and extending toward the tip or apex. Some fruits, moreover, are not perfectly symmetrical, the plane of greatest diameter of the pit, as indicated by the exterior groove, lying to one side of the median line of the fruit itself. The principle of so feeding the fruit to a cutting instrumentality-that it will always be halved accurately in the plane of greatest diameter of the p1t,'ir respective of whether or not such plane coincides with the true median line of the fruit, is set forth in United States Letters Patent No. 1,448,472, issued March 13, 1923, upon my application, and therefore, will be described hereinafter only to the extent which may be I necessary to a full understanding of my present invention.

Broadly speaking, the object of my present invention is to rovide a continuously operating machine or automatically halving the fruit and completely and accurately removing the pits therefrom with the least possible waste of the flesh -of the fruit. I attain this object not only by making use of the principle set forth in said Patent No. 1,448,472, but also by providing means forfeeding the fruit to the pitting instrumentalities in a certain fixed relation, viz, stem end first. It is well known that the pits of such fruits as peaches are. positioned always.

at (practically a fixed distance from the stem en regardless of the thickness or exterior conformation of the flesh, so that, by feed- Application for reissue ing the fruit stem end first, the pitting instrumentalities can be more accurate and positive in their operation, resulting in-less waste and less danger of cutting into or breaking the pit, than wouldbe the case if the fruit were fed in an other osition. The attainment of this desired ob ect is further assisted by providing means for holding the fruit securely during the pitting operation,

and by the shape and construction of the itting knives, as will be fully explained ereinafter.

A. further ob'ect of my invention is to provide means or removing the projecting tip or apex from the fruit, thus resultin in the practical elimination of all hand la or.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, it being understood that the form and construction of the described apparatus may be varied within the limits of the claims hereto appended, without elfecting the principles of the invention.

\Vlth this in View, a machine embodying my present invention will now be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein 7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of my fruit pitter.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

'Figure 3 is a vertical section taken in the direction of the arrow on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. l

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken in the direction of the arrow on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and enlarged.

Figure 5 is a detailed end viewof the pit-- ting knife drive mechanism.

Figure 6 is a central vertical section, enlarged, of the pitting knives.

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view of the supporting member for the pitting knives and guide plates, and is taken on the line 7-7 of Figures 3 and 8.

Figure 8 isa detailed elevation of one of the pitting knives and its supporting membar, the guide plate being removed.

Figure 9 is a sectional detail taken in the 101! direction ofthe arrow on the line an of Fi re 8.

. igure .is a transverse section, enlarged,

v of the feed conveyor.

Figure 11 is a detail of the cup locking mechanism.

Figure 12 is a section of the same "taken in the direction of the arrow on theline 12--12 of Figurell.

Figure 13 is a 'perspectivedetall of one of 'the tip cuttersassociated with the feed conve or.

igures 14 to 21 inclusive are diagrammaticviews, partly in section, illustrating the various positions and conditions of the fruit resulting from the successive operations erformed u on it, Figure 14 showing the ru1t positione upon the feed conveyor, Figure 15 showing the o oration ofthe tip cutters; Figures 16 and 1 showing the fruit as viewed from the si e at the beginning and end, respectively, of the halving operation Figure 18showing the halved fruit as viewed from therear; Figure 19 showing the halved fruit beingoperated on by the itting knives; Figure 20 showing the en of i the pitting operation; and Figure 21 show- 'nism for the main shaft and the knives, certain parts being omitted orthe of. the same, corresponding to Figure 2, with in the final product.

Figure 22 is a central vertical'section, corres onding to Figure 3 showing a slightly different construction of the driving mechaitting sake of clearness. I

- Figure'23 is a fragmentary rear elevation certainparts omitted for them e of clearness.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a frame, in the upper portion of i which is journaled a horizontal shaft 2 carryin means. for receiving ow er from an outside source, such means eing indicated in Figure 2 as com rising tight and loose pulleys 3. A secon and lower horizontal shaft 4. is driven from the shaft-2, at a much slower speed, by suitable gearing indicated I at 5.- Extending from the front of the ma conveyor chain a chine is a feed conveyor comprising a track 6, F1gure 1, and an endless chain 7 whose upper run travels in said track, as shown in Figures 1 and 10. Said chain is carried upon sprockets 8, Figure 1, and is driven, in timed relation to-the movement of the shaft 4, by

sprockets 9 and a chain 10. An adjustable tl'ghtener 11 is preferably provided for the The conveyor chain 7- carriesa series of sgaced fruit impalin and holding blades 1 in Figure 10, and are notched, as shown at 13 in, Figures 1 and 3, the notched portion beingsharpened to enable the fruit to be easi1 impaled. The fruit 14 is placed on the b ades 12, manually or by any suitable means ositions of the Said blades are thin and fiat, as shown not shown, so that it is held in the position shown in Figures 14 and 15, with its pit 15 lying in the notch 13. Moreover, the fruit 14 is positioned with the center line of its pit 15, as determined by the exterior groove of the fruit, lying in the plane of the blade12,

and with its stem end 16 up, forrea'sons to i be later set forth. The rear arm of the blade 12 is shorter than its forward arm, and is in- I clined rearwardly as shown, to enable the fruit to be lifted off said blade, by means to be presently described, while said blade is entering u on the angularportion of its travel about t e rear conveyor sprocket 8. This enables the feed conveyor to operate with a continuous, rather than an intermittent motion, facilitating the placing of the fruit thereupon.

Secured upon the conveyor track 6 is a pair of cutters 17, Figure 1, one positioned on each side of the path of the blades 12. ,c The func-' tion of said cutters is to slice off the tip or projection at the blossom end of the fruit, .as indlcated in Figure 15. Each such cutter is formed, as shown in Figure 13, preferably of spring steel or similar material, and has a cuttin ed e 18 lying in'the path of the tip of t e ruit, and a guide portion 19 a apted to ride upon the surface of the fruit adjacent to the tip to prevent the cutting edge 18 from cutting into the body ofthe fruit.

or spiders 20, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, in the peripheral regions of which are, mounted in guides 21 a series of laterally slidable memers 22, th

e members of the two disks being in horizontal alignment. Said members 22 are provided, at their inner or adjacent ends, with interiorly corrugated on s 23, the two cups of each pair of members being adapted to ggip a fruit 14 between them, as shown 1n igure 18. S rings 24, Figure 4, sur

inwardly to embrace and hold the fruit.

The sliding members 22 are prevented from rotating in t] eir guides 21, preferably by being made square 1n cross section, At their outer ends, said members carry rollers 25 adapted to ride upon stationary cams 26, by

means of which said members are separated,

at the proper times, to permit the fruit to be placed between and removed from the cups 23. The contour of the cams 26'is such that The shaft 4 carries a pair of spaced disks Y rounding the mem ers 22, cause them to move 'llO removed from said convefyor blade by said. .cups and carried to a kni e or saw 27 at the position B, which is mounted upon the rapidly rotating shaft 2,'and which operates between .said cups, to bisect-the fruit 14 and its pit 15 in the manner indicated-in Figure 17.

As before stated, the fruit is placed upon the conveyor blade 12 with the medium ine of its pit lying in theplane of. said blade, irrespective of the symmetr or lack of symmetry of the flesh of the uit about its pit. In order to maintain the fruit with the median line of its pit in the same lane, and to present it in this same plane to t e saw 27,

- which lies in the plane of the conveyor blade,

so that it will be halved in the plane of the median line, or greatest diameter of its pit, I provide means for lockin the cup holding members 22 against latera movement during' that portion of their travelbetween the feed conveyor and the saw 27. Said locking means comprise, for each cup holding member 22, a bar 28, Figures 4, 11 and 12, pivotal- I mounted at 29 upon the guide 21, and a fi iction block 30 operating in a slot in said guide and interposed between the bar 28 and the slidable cup holding member 22, and adapted for frictional contact with the latter. The bar 28 carries a spring cam follower 31 adapted to ride upon a stationary cam 32, there being two such cams, oneupon each side of the machine. The contour of said cams 32 is such that the cup holding members 22 are locked against lateral movement immediately after their cups 23 have closed u on a fruit at the position A, as indicated in Figures 1 and 3, but before the fruit is removed entirely from the conveyor blade upon which it is impaled, and such look ing is continued until the halving operation is complete. The fruit is therefore presented to the saw 27 at the position B in the same vertical plane in which it is initially placed upon the conveyor blade 12.

When the halved fruit, still held by the cups23, as indicated in Figure 18, leaves the saw 27 at the position C of Figures 1 and .3, its two halves pass on either side vof .a stationary dividing guide 33 whose upper or forward end 34 is adjacent to said saw and in vertical alignment therewith. This guide 33 is formed of two symmetrically disposed plates forming an inverted 'V, as shown in Figure 2, to spread apartsthe two halves of the fruit and their holding cups 23, as they travel downwardly thereover, the cams 32 having released thelocking bars 28 to permit such-spreading movement of the cups. The guide plates 33 are divergently inclined for a portion of their length, but at the points 35, Figure 2, they become parallel, and when the halved fruit reaches this parallel portion, at about theposition D of Figures 1 and 3, its holding cups are again ure 20, by

locked, by the action of the bars 28 and the cams 32, to prevent further spreading under the actionof the pitting knives to be described presently.

The spreader guide plates 33 are mounted upon an intervening inverted V-shaped arcuate supporting member 36, Figures 2 and 3, which is carried by' a fixed vertical bracket 37, and a fixed horizontal bracket 37 Figure 2, theupper portions of said plates being riveted to said member 36 as shown at 38. Near its lower end, each plate 33 is fastened by rivets 39 to a transverse brace member 40, Figures 7, 8, and 9, and said brace members are carried upon right and left threaded screws 41 whose reduced central portions lie in slots 42 formed in the edges of the supporting member 36, so that, by adparallel portions, with aligned apertures 43,

Figures 3 and 6. As the halved fruit passes over said apertures, the two halves of the pit are scooped or cut out, as indicated in Figi a pair of arcuate knives 44 which operate t rough said apertures. The pitting knives 44 are formed as shown in Figures 6 and 8, and are rotatably mounted in, blocks 45 secured to the lower end of the guide plate supporting member 36. Said knives 44 are thus mounted between the guide plates 33, and normally do. not project through the apertures 43, but as the halves of the fruit pass over said apertures, the knives are given a rotary motion of approximately 180 degrees, causing them to pass through said apertures and scoop out the half-pits passing thereover'. p

This) motion is imparted to the pitting knives 44 by a cam 46, Figures 1, 3, and 4,

fixed upon one of the spiders 20. Said cam periodically depresses a lever 47, which is returned by a suitable spring, not shown, and the reciprocating motion of said lever is transmitted by a link 48 to a gear segment 49, Figures 2 and 5, which meshes with a pinion 50 fixed upon the spindle of one of the knives 44. Intermeshing pinions 51 cause both knives 44 to; be oscillated simultaneously in opposite directions. As soon as the pitting operation is com leted, the cups 23 are released by means 0 the cams 32, and are immediately separated by the cams 26, allowingthe pitted halves of the fruit. now in the form shown in Figure 21, to fall into discharge chutes 52, Figures 1, 2, and 3. The halves of the pit fall down between said chutes to any suitable place of deposit not shown in the drawings.

The arcuate portions of the pitting knives 44 are formed with a steep taper from the sharp cutting edge 53 to the relatively thick back 54, as shown in Figure 6. Thisresults vfruit having been placed on the. feed conveyor blade 12 with its stem end up,1t is presented to the pitting knives stem end rst, and said knives moving upwardly in their cutting action, as-shown in Figures 6 and 20, enter the fruit from its stem end Since, as before stated, the pits are so positioned within the fruit as to be at a substantiall fixed distance from the stem end, regar less of the exterior size and c0ntou r of the flesh, the action of the pitting kn ves, in entering the fruit from the stem end, is

more accurate, and results in less waste and. less danger of said knives striking'the pit, than would be the case if the fruit were presented to said knives in any other position.

The adjustment of the lower parallel portions ofthe guide lates 33 bymeans of the screws 41 as descri d, enables thedepth of the cut of. the pitting knives to be closely re lated to further prevent waste; and fina ly, the action of the cams 32 in looking the cups 23 as the fruit is passed over the pittin 'knives,(prevents said fruit from being force outwar ly by the action of said knives, and materially assists them to remove the pit accurately and without waste.

A simplified form of driving mechanism for the main shaft 4 and 'the itting knives 44 is shown in Figures 22 and 23. In this construction the gearing 5 of Figure 2 is eliminated, and the shaft 4 is driven by a spur gear and a pinion 55', Figures 22 and. 23, the latter being fixed upon a transverse shaft 56, which ismounted in suitable journals 57 supported by the transverse bracket 37 and which is driven by any suitable means, as for example a belt, not shown, applied to a pulley 58 fixed upon said shaft.

The shaft 56 carries a grooved cam 59, in

which rides a follower 60carried upon a rocking arm 61. The lower portion of said arm carries a gear quadrant 62, which meshes with a pinion 63 secured upon the rear end of the.

spindle of one of the pitting knives 44, and said, pinion 63 meshes with a similar pinion 64 secured to the other itting knife. The cam 59 is preferably a justable upon the shaft 56, as by means of set screws 65, Figure 23, to enable the movement of the pitting knivestto be properly timed. This construction is not only sini ler than that previously described but enab es easy and quick disremovin v fruit an removing it from the holding memmoving the pit from the cut fruit; a traveling mounting, for repair or replacement, of the pitting knives 44, and their associated driving mechanism, all of which is accessiblyilocated at the rear of the machine.

I claim: I Y

1. A fruit pitter comprising means for cutting the fruit into two parts; means for removing the pit from the cut fruit; and means for receiving and holding the fruit, regardless of the relative position of the pit within the flesh by an engagement adapted for a predetermined positioning of the pit re1atively to said cutting means and said pit i'emoving means and means for presenting said fruit to said cuttin and pit removing means without change of t pit. i

2. A fruit pitter comprising means for oute relative position of the 1 ting the fruit into two arts; means for removing the pit from t e cut fruit; a feed member to releasably hold the fruit, regardless of the'relative position of the pit within the flesh by an engagement adapted for a predetermined positioning of the pit relatively to said cutting means and said it removing means; and means for transfgrring the fruit from the feed member to the cutting means and the pit removing means without changeof the predetermined relative position of the pit. i

i 3. A fruit pittercomprising means for outting the fruit into two. parts; means for removing the pit from the cut fruit; a traveling feed member to releasably hold the fruit, re-

I gardless of the relative position of the 'pit within the flesh by an engagement adapted for a predetermined positioning of the pit relatively to said cutting means and said pit means; means for grasping the her without change of the relative position of the pit; and means for effecting the travel of the grasping means ina path adapted to present the'frult to the cutting means and the pit removing means with its pit in the initial predetermined relative position.

4. 'A fruit pitter comprising means for cuttingthe fruit into two parts; means for refeed member to releasably hold the fruit, re-

within the flesh, with its pit. lying in the plane a. gardless of the relative; position of the pit of-said cutting means'- means for removing the fruit from said fee member and presenting it to said cutting means without moving its pit out of said plane; and means for transferring the cut fruit from the cutting means to the pit removing means.

5. A fruit pitter comprising means for cutting the fruit into two parts; means for removing the pit from the cut fruit; a traveling feed member to releasably hold the fruit, regardless of its symmetry, withits pit lying in the plane of said cutting means means for transferring the fruit from said feed member to said cutting means; means for preventing lateral movement of the fruit relatively to the plane of said cutting means during such transfer; and means for transferring the cut fruitfrom the cutting means to the pit removing means.

6. A fruit pitter comprising means for cutting the fruit into two parts; means for removing the pit from the cut fruit; a traveling feed member to releasably hold the fruit, regardless of its symmetry, with its pit lying in the plane of said cutting means; a pair 0 spaced members adapted to grasp the fruit,

' remove it from said feed member, and trans- 'moving the pit from the cut fer it to the cutting means and the pit-removing means; means for preventing lateral movement of said grasping members relativel to the lane of said cutting means during t e trans er of the fruit thereto; and means for preventing lateral movement of said grasping members during the operation of the pit removing means.

7. A fruit pitter comprising means for cutting the fruit into two parts; means for removing the pitfrom the cut fruit; a traveling feed member to releasably hold the fruit, regardless of its symmetry, with its pit lyin in the plane of said cutting means; a pair '0 spaced members ada ted to grasp the fruit, remove it from said eed member, and transfer itto the cutting means and the pit-removing means; means for preventing lateral movement of said grasping members relatively to the plane of said cutting means during the transfer of the fruit thereto; means for separating said grasping members and the cut ortions of the fruit held thereby during t e transfer from the cutting means to the pit removing means; and means for again preventing lateral movement of said grasping means during the operation of said pit removing means. a

8. A fruit pitter comprising means for cutting the fruit into two parts; means for removing the pit from the cut fruit; means for transferring the cut fruit from the'cutting means to the pit removing means; and means for lockin said transferring means to prevent latera movement of the. cut fruit away from the it removing means during the operation o the latter.

9. A fruit pitter comprising means for cutting the fruit into two parts means for refruit; a pair of traveling members adapted to gras' thefruit laterally and transfer it from t e cutting means to the pit removing means; and means for locking said grasping members against lateral movement away from said pit removing means during the operation thereof.

10. A fruit pitter comprisin a traveling notched blade adapted to impa e and releasably hold the fruit with its pit lying in the 1 notch of said blade, the sides of said notch being divergent toward its open end; means for being divergent toward its 0 en end, and the rear side being shorter than t e forward side; means for cutting the fruit and removing the pit therefrom; and means for transferrin the fruit from said blade to said cutting an pit removing means. I 12. A fruit pitter comprisin a traveling notched blade adapted to impa e and releasably hold the fruit with its pit lying in the notch of said blade, the rear side of said n'otch sloping rearwardl toward its open end and said rear side being shorter than the forward side; means for cutting the fruit and removing the pit therefrom; and means for transferring the fruit from said blade to said cutting and pit removing means.

13. A frult pitter com rising means for receiving and advancing t e fruit; means for removing the pit therefrom; and trimming means for cuttin ofi' exterior projecting portions of said frult said trimming means heifng stationary relatively to the advancing ruit.

14. A fruit pitter comprising means for receiving and advancing a fruit; relatively stationary means positioned in the path of the advancing fruit for trimming ofi exterior projecting portions thereof; and means for removing the pit from said fruit.

15. A fruit pitter comprising means for receiving and advancing a fruit; a stationary knife positioned in the path of the advancing fruit for trimming o the projecting tip therefrom; and means for removing-the pit from said fruit. p

' 16. A fruit pitter comprising means for receiving and advancinga fruit; a knife positioned in the path of the advancing fruit for trimming off the projecting tip therefrom; a guard member associated with said knife to regulate the depth of its cut; and means for removing the pit from said fruit.

17. A fruit pitter comprising means for receiving and advancing a frult; a resilient knife positioned in the path of the advancing fruit for trimming off the projecting tip therefrom; a guard member assoclated with said knife and adapted to coact with the surface of the fruit to automatically adjust'the osition of said knife; and means for removing the pit from said fruit.

- 18.-A fruit itter comprisi n impalingrmem er ada ted to vancea uit; a air of a traveling old and ad- 'ves, one positioned member for trimming ofi' the projecting tip of the fruit; and means for removing the pit from the said fruit.

19. A fruit itter comprising means for cutting the fruit into two parts; a traveling member adapted to grasp one of said parts by engagement with its convexv side; means adapted to enter said part fromits out side and remove the pittberefrom; and means for locking said grasping member against move-- ment awa from said pit removing means.

eralmovement away from said pit removing.

means. r

21. A fruit pitter comprising meansfor cutting the fruit into two parts; oppositely disposed traveling members adapted to asp the fruit and convey it. to and from sai cutting means; meansfor spreading apart thecut portions of the fruit and said gras ing Y grasping mem similar to that of the exterior of the 'members;'means adapted to entersaid uit portions from their cut sidesand remove the and means for locking the pit therefromhers to prevent lateral movement thereof away from said pit removing means during the. operation of the latter.-

c22. A fruit pitter comprising means for a cutting a fruit intotwo arts; means for holding a cut portion of said fruit; an 'arcuate pitting knife havingxa cutting edge and a relatively thick bac and mechanism for causing said knife to enter the fruit portion from its out side and remove the pit therefrom, the thickback of saidknife readin the pit away from the flesh of the ait, an its cutting edge severing the flesh adhering to said -pit.-

23. In a fruit pitter, an arcuate pit removing knife having a curvature approximately it; an

having a cutting edge anda relativei thick portion behind said edge; and mechamsm for causing1 said knife to enter the fruit and remove t e pit therefrom, the thick portion of said. knife s reading the pit away from the '5 flesh of the ruit, audits cutting I edge severing the flesh adhering to said pit.

' 24. A fruit pitter comprising means for halving the fruit and its tpit; means for separating the halves ofsai fruit; devices for cutting out the halves of the pit from' the halves of the fruit; means foradjusting the spacing of said separating means to regulate t e depth of cut of said cutting devices; and means for preventing movement of the halves of the fruit away from said separating means. durmg the operation of said cutting devices.

.ceiving and holding a posed interiorly corru ated cup 25. A fruit pitter comprising means for halving the frult and its pit; a pair of divergent guide plates; means for grasping the halves of the fruit and advancingthem over said guide plates; devices for cutting out the halves of the pit from the halves of the fruit; means for adjusting the spacing of said uide plates to regulate the depth of cut of sai cutting devices; and -means for locking said grasping means a ainst movement away from said guide plates uringthe operation of said cutting devices. d

26.'A fruit pitter comprising means for halving the fruit and its it; a pair of divergent guide plates, contiguous at oneend and spaced at the other; a supporting member between said plates; means for grasping the halves of the fruit and advancing them over said guide plates toward their spaced ends; devices. mounted in said supporting member for cuttin out the halves of the it from the halves o the fruit; and means or movin the spaced ends of said guide plates .towar or away from said supporting member'to regulate the depth of cut of said outtin devices. I 1

2 A fruit itter comprising means for halving the fruit and its it; means forseparating the halves of'said fi uit a pair of arcuate rotatable knives for removin the halves of the pit from the halves of the ruit; intermeshing pinions fixed to said knives; a segmental gear meshing with one of saidpinions;

and means for oscillating said segmental gear. 28. A fruit pitter comprising .means for halving the fruit and its pit; means for separating the halves ofsaid fruit; a pair of arcuate rotatableknives for removin the halves of the pit from the haves of the ruit; intermeshing pinions fixed to said knives; a segmental gear meshing with one of said pin ions, a cam follower carried by said segmental gear; and a rotatable grooved cam in which said follower is adaptedto ride to cause. said segmental gear to oscillate.

29. A fruit pitter com rising means for re- I uit; means for cutting said fruit into two parts and removing ,the pit therefrom; a pair of oppositely disposed members adapted to grasp the fruit while held by said receiving means; a carrier member in which said grasping members are movably mounted; means for moving said carrier member to cause said grasping members to transfer the fruit'from the receiving means to the cutting and pit removing means; and means for reventin the rotation of said grasping mem rs in sai carrier member. 30. A fruit pitter com rising means for receiving and holding a ruit; means for cutting said fruit into two parts and removing the pit therefrom; apair of oppositely dismembers adapted tograsp the fruit while held by said recelving means; a carrier member in which said on members are movably mounted; means or moving said carrier member to cause said cup members to transfer the fruit from the receiving means to the cutting and pit removing means; and means for preventing the rotation of said cup members in said carrier member.

31. A fruit pitter including pitting means shaped to conform approximately to a sub- 10 stantial portion of the pit in the plane of its suture, and mechanism to cause said pitting means to rotate about said pit comprising means independent of the sides of the pit to cause the pitting means to follow a predetermined path a proximating the cross-section- 7 a1 contour o the pit in a plane-transverse to the axis of rotation of the pitting means. 32. A fruit pitter comprising a slotted blade upon which fruit maybe manually im- 29 paled without removing a slice of flesh in a predetermined position with the fruit pit lying central of t e plane of the blade and r0 tary curved pitting means disposed so as to cut into the flesh of the fruit on either side 2: said plane for removing the pit from the uit. I Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 19th day of J anuar 1927. i

' AliBERT R. THOMPSON. 

